DELAHUNT: Thank you. One other reference -- I think it was my friend from
Virginia, Mr. Goodlatte, who referred to the Claiborne -- Judge Claiborne being removed
from office, because --
and I think it was the chairman himself, who elucidated
for us it was as a result of filing under the pains and penalties of perjury -- an income
tax return. And I think that you agreed with that statement. But I
think it is important to remember, that this same committee back in 1974, when there was
an article of impeachment presented before the committee, in terms of President Nixon's --
allegations against President Nixon regarding the very
same offense -- signing under the pains and penalties of perjury.
It was this committee back then that voted against an
article -- an article of impeachment on that particular, on that particular matter.
I think it's really important that the
American people understand that.
So there was a difference.
There was a difference.
I'm just going to ask you one or two questions, just to clarify some confusion in my
own mind. You referred earlier to a letter dated June
16th, that you directed to the editor of "Brill's Content."
STARR: Yes.
DELAHUNT: And on page seven of your letter you noted that the Brill report stated and
I'm quoting you here, "They were also going to try
to get Lewinsky to wire herself and get Jordan and maybe even the president on tape
obstructing justice."
And I think that's an accurate reading. In response your letter and you then went on to
state, and I'm quoting, "This is false. This office never asked
Ms. Lewinsky to agree to wire herself for a conversation with Mr. Jordan or the
president."
And again I would suggest to you that is an accurate reading of your letter and I would
hope that you would adopt it. I presume when you wrote
that you took great pains to be accurate -- and before you particularly put such an
unequivocal statement in writing -- do you stand by that statement?
STARR: The specific statement on the wiring with respect to the president and Mr.
Jordan.
DELAHUNT: The statement that I just read to you. This office never asked...
STARR: I'm sorry I don't have the letter before me and I'm trying to follow and you were
reading fairly fast.
DELAHUNT: Let me read it for you again and I will read it slowly and I apologize.
"This office never asked Ms. Lewinsky to agree to wire herself for a conversation
with Mr. Jordan or the president."
STARR: Right.
DELAHUNT: You stand by that statement.
STARR: May I elaborate? Yes what we...
DELAHUNT:
STARR: These are serious questions.
HYDE: You can try Judge Starr -- it's going to be tough. You can try to answer.
DELAHUNT: If I can just indulge because that would seem to...
(UNKNOWN MEMBER): Mr. Chairman I make a point of order that the witness should be
allowed to answer the questions. This drive by questioning.
DELAHUNT: I'm still not out of time.
FRANK: That's not a point of order, Mr. Chairman, that's a
complaint.
HYDE: Elementary fairness dictates an opportunity for
the witness to answer your complex questions. I think if you want to be fair you will let
him answer.
DELAHUNT: I will be fair then. And I would ask the chair to indulge me again.
HYDE: I will indulge you for the answer.
STARR: We explained to her at the Ritz Carlton what a
cooperating witness would do.
STARR: It is my understanding -- I was not personally there, but it's my
understanding that is was stated at a high level of generality, with respect to what
cooperating witnesses could be asked to do and that was one
of the activities that could be included in what a cooperating witness would do once the
witness has been evaluated in terms of her credibility and the like.
DELAHUNT: So the statement in your letter to Mr. Brill is inaccurate?
STARR: No, it went with respect -- that's why I wanted to be careful that I understood
exactly what the question was. And I hope that I have
made clear that we talked at a high level of generality not -- as I understand it -- not
in a person specific way with respect to what a cooperating witness would do.
